Bestselling writing partners Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, writing as Lauren (The Paradise Problem), spin another convincing romance, the fourth in the multiauthor Meant to Be series of contemporary fairy tale adaptations (after Zoraida Córdova’s Kiss the Girl). For the first 22 years of her life, Ren Gylden was kept isolated and homeschooled in rural Idaho by her prepper parents, Steve and Gloria. But after she wins a scholarship to Corona College, Ren’s parents reluctantly consent to let her experience the real world, as long as she comes home every weekend, stays off the internet, and doesn’t date, wear makeup, drink alcohol, or go anywhere except to classes and the library. Among her new classmates is Fitz, who was adopted as a teen by a wealthy man who needed some good PR. Though everyone assumes Fitz is rich, he’s working his own way through college and attempting to graduate at the top of his class to earn a judge’s promised recommendation to seal his juvenile criminal record. After a class assignment involving a DNA test, Ren learns a shocking secret about her family and persuades Fitz to let her tag along on a road trip he’s taking to Atlanta so she can investigate further. The road trip is fun and eventful with a satisfying twist awaiting Ren at the end. This is a delight. (June)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

YA author Wood (the Poppy Pim series) makes her adult debut with an irresistible rockstar romance. Though PhD candidate Clementine “Clemmie” Monroe remains close with her two half sisters, singer Lil and record producer Serena, she otherwise avoids all reminders of their famous rocker dad, even going so far as forbid herself from listening to any new music at all. After her teaching gig and her relationship both end abruptly, she turns to her sisters for support and lets them reenact the “breakup spell” they invented as teenagers. The women make three wishes for Clemmie: a one-night stand, a soul mate, and a job she loves. With no real expectation of wish fulfillment, Clemmie is impressed with herself when she does soon enjoy a one-night stand and happy enough when Serena finds her a temporary job “babysitting” a musician on a deadline. She’s less excited when she learns that her random hookup was actually with global superstar Theo Eliott—and he’s her new client. Shacked up in a rural beach house in Northumberland while Theo tries to finish his next album, sparks fly. Though Clemmie tries to keep things casual, Theo is determined to win her heart. He proves a swoonworthy hero, and it’s endearing to watch Clemmie slowly let down her guard. The chemistry is electric and the quirky side characters add to the fun. This is one to devour. Agent: Louise Lamont, LBA Books. (June)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

De la Rosa’s satisfying second Luna Sisters Victorian romance (after Ana María and The Fox) allows middle sister Isabel her chance in the spotlight. Isabel and her sisters were forced to leave their native Mexico for England. Now, Isabel is determined to help her homeland fight against the French occupation. Undercover of the London Season’s various social events, Isabel searches studies and bedrooms of the powerful for any British intelligence that might prove useful. Her amateur sleuthing is hindered by Capt. Sirius Dawson, a decorated war hero and Home Office agent who’s after the same intel as Isabel—and also hopes to keep her safe during her mission. Attraction ignites as the pair are forced into tight quarters to avoid being detected, but Isabel hopes to return to Mexico as soon as she can, which means their passion can only be temporary. De la Rosa expertly captures the Luna sisters’ dynamic, exploring how, as the middle sibling, Isabel is often overlooked and highlighting her pluck and determination to find a purpose within a society rife with both gender and racial discrimination. Readers will have no trouble rooting for this worthy heroine to get her happy ending. (June)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

Mystery writer Armstrong (The Boy Who Cried Bear) turns to romance with this sharply funny satire. Aspiring author Daphne McFadden is tired of agents rejecting her zombie romance novel and decides to try something radical. She goes back on submission using the male alter ego Zane Remington and calling the book a fantasy (though she doesn’t actually remove any of the romance). The ruse works, landing her a $500,000 book deal. Daphne’s lawyer friend, Nia Paramar, helps her maintain the deception by roping in Chris Stanton, Nia’s accountant, to play Zane in Daphne’s author photo. For a video shoot, Chris travels from Vancouver to Daphne’s home in the Yukon, where he portrays Zane as macho and arrogant, though Daphne gets glimpses of the sweet, nerdy man underneath. The novel becomes a runaway hit, and Daphne and Chris’s mutual attraction ignites on a book tour where Daphne poses as Chris’s assistant. But they must face the fallout together when Daphne’s creepy neighbor threatens to reveal their deception. Armstrong packs in plenty of laugh-out-loud moments while driving home her point about gendered expectations and inequities in genre publishing. Add in believable chemistry between the leads, and the result is sure to please fans of meta rom-coms. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency. (June)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

A heartfelt reunion between high school friends animates this light, summery contemporary from Chalsen (Kismet). After college, Maggie Monroe followed her screenwriting dreams all the way to L.A. and never looked back, distancing herself from her close friends in New York City. Six years later, after a significant career detour, Maggie returns to Manhattan and receives an unexpected invitation to spend three weekends in a Fire Island beach house with her formerly close-knit high school friend group, including her old flame Mac and her estranged bestie Liz. Maggie left town at Liz’s lowest point and her return reignites old anxieties, adding unease to Liz’s recent engagement to her high school sweetheart. Over the course of the summer, Maggie, Mac, Liz, and their closest friends journey back and forth to Fire Island to spend some quality time in the sun, even as old memories and new drama bubble up. Maggie’s personal growth as she reconnects with her past unfolds with a cozy and comforting vibe, and though Chalsen keeps things breezy, the emotions are real. This fast-paced and sun-filled romp is sure to brighten readers’ spirits. (June)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

Allen’s delightful latest (after 2022’s Guidance) combines snarky one-liners with some serious spice. Aaliyah James, 29, hasn’t found Mr. Right yet, but her family’s putting pressure on her to settle down ASAP. It doesn’t help that her eccentric uncle Al is sure her weight is the real problem keeping her from a relationship. To prove him wrong, she’s determined to bring a boyfriend to her 30th birthday party—which is just seven weeks away. Despite some trepidation, she agrees to a blind date with a friend of a friend, which goes disastrously wrong. The only saving grace is that Ahmad Williamson, the very sexy bartender who watches it go up in flames, can’t take his eyes of Aaliyah. She and Ahmad click when she tells him about her mission and he encourages her to try dating apps, promising to look out for her so long as she brings all her dates to his bar. Aaliyah takes him up on it, but as their friendship grows increasingly flirtatious, his presence becomes a distraction when she’s supposed to be on dates with other people. Allen makes the friends-to-lovers romance sing with a body-positive message, some laugh-out-loud moments, and charming supporting characters—including Aaliyah’s enviable friend group. Readers will hope for more time with these endearing characters in future installments. (June)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

Dressler draws from a classic enemies to lovers tale in her sparkling debut, a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Bea Hayes, 37, is on the cusp of receiving tenure at Messiman, a small college in Washington State and her alma mater. Her career’s on track, but her romantic life is stalled; she’s still caught up in resentment about the perceived betrayal of her college friend Ben, who she once thought could have been something more to her. Meanwhile, Bea’s beloved cousin, 22-year-old Heron Hunter, is a starry-eyed undergraduate at the same college with a wealthy and seemingly devoted new fiancé, Charlie, and an unsure career path. When Heron and Charlie hatch a plan to get Bea and Ben together, the pair tentatively bury the hatchet. Things are looking up for both couples­—until a malicious actor plots to ruin their happiness. Dressler’s multilayered romance sensitively takes on a number of touchy topics, including misogyny and fat shaming, and easily draws in readers with its three-dimensional characters. This is a promising start. (June)

Reviewed on 04/26/2024 | Details & Permalink

Delaney (Stealing His Mate) casts a spell with the first in her Witches of Star Island paranormal series. Hedge witch and tarot card reader Laurel Bay lives on magical Star Island with her four witchy sisters, Verbena, Lavender, Rosemary, and Sage. Their ability to see the future means all five sisters are aware that they will soon meet their soulmates, starting with Laurel. As a “sonofawitch,” Owen Davies is aware of the supernatural but his own powers are limited to being able to tell if a storm is rolling in. Now fate is pushing Owen to Star Island—where Laurel eagerly awaits him. Owen and Laurel have spent past lives together, and have visited each other in other realms—but there’s a major roadblock to their destined happy ending. In a past life, spiteful witch Morana incited a mob to burn Laurel at the stake—and, in her final moments, Laurel placed a curse on Morana in retribution. As Laurel and Owen reunite in the present day, vengeful Morana also reappears. The love story is endearing and the supernatural twists propel the story forward at an exciting clip. The ending leaves many questions unanswered and is sure to annoy those who hate cliffhangers, but Delaney’s sturdy worldbuilding ensures this series has plenty of places to go. This is a strong start. (May)

Reviewed on 04/19/2024 | Details & Permalink

Lambda Award winner McMan follows up 2020’s The Big Tow with a goofy romance for goth mortician Lilah, the sister of book one’s heroine, Frankie Stohler. Thirty-something and resolutely single, Lilah has spent her whole life in mortuary science and is about to be rewarded with control of her family’s funeral parlor. But dear old Dad isn’t retiring without one more power move: hiring Sparkle Lee Sink as “community outreach liaison.” Lilah is outraged and intrigued at once, a snarl of emotion that tangles further when Sparkle’s marketing success leads to Lilah’s reluctant elevation to Instagram stardom. Buyout offers and a joint junket to a Vegas convention up the ante as the two enemies pratfall their way toward becoming lovers. McMan relies on relentless one-liners to cover for spotty characterization and plotting, but she’s not entirely successful in encouraging the suspension of disbelief. It makes no sense, for example, that Lilah has spent her life in funeral homes yet refuses to interact with grieving families and resents the idea that anyone would think it a part of the job. Nor is the central love story likely to set readers’ hearts aflutter; it’s primarily a comedic exercise. Fans of McMan’s particular brand of quirky, pop-culture infused humor may find something to enjoy, but newcomers will be left scratching their heads. (July)

Reviewed on 04/19/2024 | Details & Permalink

Angyal turns to the enemies-to-lovers trope in her adorable second ballet romance (after Pas de Don’t). New York Ballet corps de ballet dancer Carly Montgomery’s trip to Sydney, Australia, to be maid of honor for her best friend, Heather Hays, gets off to a rough start when she accidentally runs a man over with her airport luggage cart—and he’s so rude about it! Things get worse when she’s later introduced to him as the groom’s best man, Nick Jacobs. The pair agree to keep their mutual ire under wraps for their friends’ sakes and play nice as they attend to various wedding tasks. They grow closer when Nick, a professional dance photographer and former premier dancer, agrees to Carly’s request to photograph her for social media as part of her campaign to be promoted to soloist. Nick and Carly traverse Sydney’s one-of-a-kind beaches taking striking shots that cause her social media following to skyrocket—and along the way their enmity transforms into intense attraction. But when Carly learns that Nick overplayed his success as a photographer, their whirlwind romance may be at an end. Angyal’s intimate familiarity with the ballet world shines through and it’s easy to cheer on her flawed, three-dimensional characters. This is a page-turner. (May)

Reviewed on 04/19/2024 | Details & Permalink